Podcast Pick: Can Slowing Down Make You More Creative?

slowing downDespite being a self-described ‘pre-crastinator, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and psychologist Adam Grant says those who slow down — even procrastinate — tend to be more creative, original thinkers.

On the value of procrastination, Grant said, “People who started early and then put it away for a while and then came back to it — they were much more likely to do divergent thinking and incubation and that actually boosted their creativity. We ran some experiments to show that in fact, forcing people to procrastinate or inciting them to procrastinate could boost their creativity as long as they didn’t wait too long.”

His story is fascinating – and totally hilarious – as he put his Type A personality to the test of procrastination and reveals how this “slowing down” works so well.

Listen to the Podcast

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Melissa Eisler

Melissa Eisler, MA, PCC, is an ICF certified executive coach. She partners with leaders to develop their systems thinking, resilience, strategic communication skills, and executive presence in order to reach individual, team, and organizational goals. She blends more than 15 years of experience in leadership positions in the corporate world, with her master’s degree in organizational leadership and extensive background in mindfulness to help her clients master their leadership skills and steer their teams through challenges and change. Learn more about Melissa here.

1 Comment

  1. Evelyn Krieger on October 13, 2016 at 6:52 am

    Great podcast. I’m a recovering perfectionist, Type A over-achiever, who has finally learned to slow down. As a writer, I’m glad to know that slowing down can truly enhance creativity.

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Melissa is the founder and principal executive coach at Wide Lens Leadership. As an ICF Certified Executive Coach with a Master's degree in organizational leadership, Melissa has coached hundreds of leaders ranging from C-suite to entrepreneur, from Fortune 500 companies to startups, and across diverse industries. She is passionate about supporting leaders and teams on their growth journeys toward greater impact, more collaborative teams, and stronger results.